Indian Prairie School District 204

About Fry

Welcome from the Principal

Welcome to Fry Elementary School! We are very proud of our school – which represents incredible students, supportive community members, and a very dedicated staff. Fry is a place where students are nurtured and challenged in ways that are intended to support the development of tomorrow’s generation of leaders and contributors to our society.

Fry Elementary was honored to be named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2012. That recognition speaks volumes about the ongoing efforts, sound decisions, and great character of our students and staff since we opened our doors in 2001.

We are fortunate to partner with a caring and dedicated PTA that spends its time and energy seeking ways to positively impact students and staff for the sake of learning. So much that we do as a school would not be possible without our PTA’s support.

At Fry Elementary we have developed a Mission and Vision that we consistently measure our efforts and success against:

Fry Mission Statement

The Fry Elementary School Community will engage all learners and inspire them to surpass expectations.

Fry Elementary School is named for the Fry family, which came to the area by wagon from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1854. They were tradesmen in landscaping and horticulture and settled on 999 acres in Will County. The next generation became farmers, blacksmiths, masons, sawmill operators, cattlemen, government officials, land developers and teachers.

John Fry, whose grandfather was among the original settlers, remained in Naperville to become a land developer. His brothers studied medicine, law, accounting and business.

Members of the Fry family have been deeply involved in education. Several family members served on boards of education in school districts that preceded Indian Prairie District 204. John’s wife, Laurabelle, taught second grade at Wheatland Elementary School, and one of her students was her son, Gordon. Gordon’s wife, Debbie, also attended Wheatland.

Brother Larry attended Wheatland and, in 1999, served on District 204’s “12 at 12” finance committee. Brother J. Alan Fry was an organizing member and has been chairman of the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation since its inception in 1988. His wife, Nancy, taught music at Fry Elementary.

All of the Fry children either attend or have graduated from District 204 schools. Alan and Gordon continue the business their father started, as did brother Larry before his death last year.